Improvement in machines for heading cans



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. J. GORDON. Machine for Heading Cans.

No. 214,292. Patented April 15,1879.

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ILPETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRA-FHER WASHINGTN. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. J. GORDON. Machine for Heading Gans.

No. 214,292. Patented April15, 1879.

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s Az S755 Lavez/for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. GORDON, OF,PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR HEADING CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214.292, dated April15, 1879 application filed July 12, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.:

Bc it known that I, WILLIAM J. GORDON, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Machine for Heading Cans, of which the following is a full,clear, and precise specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of the same.

My invention relates to the class of mechanisms employed for crimpingthe heads upon the bodies of metallic cans, and has for its object theprovision of an automatic device to accomplish the same without damageto the bodies; to which end it consists substantially as hereinafter setforth.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevation of my machine, the lower halfin central section 5 Fig. 2, a top-plan view; Fig. 3, a perspective ofthe camway, exhibiting the spring-adjustment thereof; and Figs. 4t and5, detailed views of the action of the crimping-rolls, the cans uponwhich the rolls are operating being represented in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts wherever used.

A is a supporting stationary frame-work of any desired construction,represented as rectangular in outline. B is the top surface of thestationary frame-work.

Gis the rotating frame-work, composed of two circular tables, c c', uponthe upper of which rest the brackets D D', supporting the crimpingmechanism proper. This rotating frame-work is supported upon a hollowvertical stem, E, journaled in the stationary framework at e. This stemis provided with a bevel crown-wheel, F, meshing with a bevel-pinion,F', attached to the inner extremity of a horizontal shaft, G, journaledin the stationary frame-work, and provided at its outer extremity with alarge toothed wheel, g, by the revolution of which the rotating framework through the bevelgear F F' is caused to rotate.

H is a vertical spindle journaled through the hollow stem E, extendingabove the tables c c' to a level with the top of the brackets D D',where itis provided with a top driver cog-wheel, I. It extends downbelow and through the bearing c of the stem E, is journaled at h' in thestationary frame-work, and is provided at its bottom with a bevelcrownwheel, h, meshing with a bevel-pinion, J, attached to the innerextremity of a horizontal shaft, K, journaled in the stationaryframework, below and in line with the shaft G, and provided at its outerextremity with a small toothed wheel, 7c, gearing into the large toothedwheel g, which'drives the shaft Gr. The extreme outer end of the shaftGr is provided with the driving-pulleys L L'. The relative dimensions ofthe wheels g and 7c and of the bevel-gears F F' and h J are such as tosecure different rates of speed in rotation to the stem and spindle.

In the free space between the tables c c' the bottom driver cogwheel, M,is keyed to the spindle. It is the mate to theuppercog-wheel, I.

Upon opposite sides ofthe rotary framework, journaled through the uppertable, c, are two vertical shafts, N N', free to play up and down to acertain extent. Upon them, between the tables, are keyed smallcog-wheels O O', meshing with the bottom driver-cog, and driven by it,but sufficiently loose in their play to slide up and down through itsleaves. To the tops of these shafts are attached beddisks l? l", adaptedto hold the bottoms of the cans. The shafts project loosely through thelower table, c', and terminate in rollers Q, running upon the topsurface, B, of the stationary frame Work in part, and in part upon acircular camway, It, supported upon elastic cushions S, springs or thelike resting on said surface. A couuterbalance wheel, S', arranged toact beneath the camway, aids the action of the cushions.

J ournaled in bearings t t in the upper overhanging arms of the bracketsDD' are two disk cogs, T T', meshing with the top drivercog, I, andmates to the cogs O O'. Their under faces are countersunk to adapt themto hold the tops of the cans.

U U' are crimpers pivoted to the brackets D D' in such manner as tooverhang the diskcogs T T'. Above the pivots they -are provided withfriction-rollers a u', and at their lower ends with crimping-'rolls VV', adapted to crimp down the rims of the cans. WNV' are counteractingsprings, each secured to the rotary frame-work at one end and to t-heupper extremity of the crimpers at the other, and each acting outward topress the crimpingrolls in against the can-tops.

X is a semicircular compressor-track supported from the stationaryframe-work, being a camway adapted to compress the crimpers, thefriction-rollers of which travel against it during part of the time otrotation of the rotary framework.

The operating end of the crimping-rolls is of the form of a truncatedcone, r, and at thc base it terminates in a bead, s, or other circularprojection, the object of which form is to prevent injury or indentationof the body of the can. The incline ot' the roll, lying parallel withthe body of the can and against it, forms a guide while the bead iscrimping down the rim of the cover. Combined the bead and incline form acomposite gage, each insuring the perfect action of the other.

Y is a knock-ofi` secured to the supports of the compressor-track, tothrow the finished can o' the bed-disk.

Such being the construction of my apparatus, it is obvious, from therelative proportions of the gear-trains employed, that the rotary framework has the slowest rate of rotation, that of the spindle and upper andlower driver-cogs being much more rapid, while that of the bed-disks anddisk-cogs is much more rapid than that of the spindle and drivers.

The bed-disks and disk-cogs have the same speed of rotation, beingrespectively of the saine size and driven by match-cogs-viz., the upperand lower drivers.

It will be observed that the cam way R and compressor-track X face inopposite directions, and that upon the rotation of the rotary framework,at the time when one ot' the rollers supporting one of the bed-disks istraveling upon the camway, the other roller supporting the otherbed-disk is traveling upon the top surface of the stationary framework,and also that while one of the crimpers is traveling upon thecompressor-track, so that its crimpingroll is deflected away from thedisk-cog which it faces, the opposite crimper, not being upon the track,is, by the action of its expandingspring, deflected in and against theunder face of the bed-disk which it faces.

In the operation of the machine, the cans are fed by hand or by feedingmechanism up- 011 that bed-disk which is traveling upon the top surfaceof the stationary frame-work, and over which, at the time of feeding,the crimper is deflected away by the compressor-track, so that there isnot only room to place the can in position, but also there is nocrimping action at such time upon the can so placed in position. As,however, the rotating frame work rotates, the roller of the bed-diskupon which the can is rested encounters the camway, and, rising upon it,raises the beddisk with the can up against the disk-cog until the canand its head are clamped firmly together between the disks and with themare rotated. As the r0- tation of the rotary frame-work furthercontinues, the crimper above the can in position runs on thecompressor-track, and is, by the action of its spring, deflected againstthe cantop, so as to crimp the head upon the can as the can rotates uponthe disks. Further on, in the rotation of the frame-work, the compressorreferred to encounters the opposite end of the compressor-track, and isdeflected away from the can, shortly after which the roller of thebed-disk runs oli' the opposite end of the camway and down upon the topsurface ot the stationary frame work, thus relieving the cam fromcompression between the disks and leaving it loose upon the bed-disk, sothat when it encounters the knock-off it is free to be thrown off themachine into any suitable receiver. The action of the opposite sides oi'the machine throughout its operation is opposite.

I have represented and described a machine adapted for two cans; but itis obvious that the parts may be multiplied, so as to adapt it for usewith a larger number of cans.

The object of resting the camway upon springs or cushions is to secureeffectual com pression between the disks of Varying sizes of cans.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The bed-disks P P', adapted to be not only rotated, but alternatelyand automatically lifted and dropped, for the purposes set forth.

2. In an organized machine for heading cans, the combination, withcontinuously-rotated cans, of crimpers U U', adapted to be alternatelybrought into contact with the heads of the cans and alternately forcedout of contact therewith, substantially as shown and dcscribed.

3. As a device for alternately throwing the crimping-rolls into and outof contact with the can -heads, the counteracting springs W W', andcompressor track X, substantially as shown and described.

4. As a device for alternately lifting and dropping the bed-disks P P',the circular camway R, substantially as shown and described.

5. The rotary frame work G, constructed and arranged as described, andactuated to rotation by the bevel-gear F F', in combination with thestem E and shaft T, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of July,A. D. 1878.

W. J. GORDON.

In presence of- W. C. STRAWBRIDGE, J. BoNsALL TAYLOR.

